The Fall River Historical Commission on Sept. 30 elected Commissioner Richard Mancini as its chair after a short nomination and roll-call vote.
Commissioner Connie Soule nominated Mancini; the nomination was seconded and carried in a unanimous roll-call vote. Commissioners Jonathan Lima, Connie Soule, Ashley DeCunha and Joyce Rodricks all voted "yes," and Mancini also voted for himself. After the vote Mancini said, "And, yes, I accept."
Why it matters: the chair leads the commission's meetings, sets hearing procedures and represents the body in communications with applicants and city staff. Mancini presided over the remainder of the Sept. 30 meeting, during which the commission approved a series of letters of support for local preservation projects.
Context and next steps: Mancini told the commission this was his first official meeting as chair and asked members to "go easy on me tonight." The commission has a number of follow-up items scheduled, including a public presentation of the Bio Reserve inventory later in November and a Highlands Local Historic District fieldwalk on Oct. 9; Mancini and the commissioners indicated they would coordinate outreach and staff follow-up as those events proceed.